Home / Finials, Spear Tops and Picket Tops Compared
Finials, Spear Tops and Picket Tops Compared
Finials, spear tops and plain picket tops give a metal gate three very different personalities. A finial is a decorative cap, a spear top is a pointed tip and a plain top is a simple cut or flat end. The choice affects looks, safety, cost and upkeep, so it helps to see what each one does before ordering a gate.
Plain picket tops
A plain top is the bar cut flat, or a bar that stops at the top rail. It is the simplest and the least expensive option, and it looks clean and modern. There are no points to catch clothing and nothing to collect water. Plain tops suit contemporary houses, ranch homes and gates where the design is meant to stay quiet.
The limit is character. A row of flat tops can look plain next to a detailed house, and it offers no visual cue that the gate is an entrance. A little variation, such as a taller center bar or a slight arch, adds interest without changing the basic form.
Spear tops
A spear top is a pointed, leaf shaped end on each picket. It is a classic form associated with traditional ironwork and gives the gate a formal, protective look. Spear tops come in several shapes, from a narrow lance to a broad leaf, and some are forged separately and welded onto the bar.
The points suggest security, and they discourage climbing over the top. They also need care. Sharp tips can injure someone who falls against them, and some neighborhood rules and city codes address the height or sharpness of points near a sidewalk. Many designs use blunted or slightly rounded tips to soften the risk. Spear tops also have crevices where the tip joins the bar, so the weld should be sealed to keep water out.
Finials
A finial is a decorative cap that sits on top of a bar or a post. Shapes include balls, acorns, fleur de lis, pineapples, flames and simple knobs. Finials add detail and can echo a motif from the house. They work especially well on posts and on the corner bars of a gate, where they give the eye a place to rest.
Using finials on every picket is expensive and can look busy. A common approach is to place them on the posts and the end bars, with spear or plain tops on the rest. This keeps cost down and keeps the focus on the structure of the gate.
Finials can be cast, forged or fabricated from sheet. Cast pieces are cheaper and consistent, forged pieces have a handmade look and fabricated pieces can be made in custom shapes. Whichever method is used, the connection to the bar must be sturdy, since a finial that works loose can fall off in a storm.
Safety and rules
Any top that rises above the rail needs a thought for safety. Children, pets and passersby can bump into a tip. Check local codes and association rules for limits on point height and sharpness, especially for a gate that borders a sidewalk or a pool. A pool gate has its own requirements for height, self closing hinges and latch placement, and the top should not provide a foothold.
The top also affects climbing. Wide, flat tops with horizontal rails make it easier to climb, while narrow vertical points make it harder. If security is the aim, a combination of a tall gate, narrow bar spacing and pointed tops is more effective than any one choice alone.
Cost and upkeep
Plain tops cost the least and need the least care. Spear tops add fabrication time and welds. Finials add parts and welds as well. Each welded joint is a place where rust can start if the coating is thin, so the finish should cover every crevice. A zinc rich primer and a durable topcoat applied to clean steel protect the joints, and a touch up every few years extends the life of the coating.
Water collects in cup shaped finials and in the hollow space under some caps. A drain hole or a solid cap prevents rust from the inside. Ask the fabricator how each joint is sealed.
Matching the top to the house
Look at the architecture. A Victorian or a Craftsman home near the square in Georgetown supports spears and finials, since those forms match the period. A mid century or contemporary home matches plain tops. A stone house with a rustic character often looks right with simple spear tops and a heavy frame.
Also consider the neighborhood. A gate that is much fancier than the surrounding properties can look out of place, and one that is much plainer can look unfinished. Walk the street and note what is common.
Mixing styles
A well designed gate often mixes more than one top. Plain tops on the field bars, spear tops on the end bars and finials on the posts is a familiar combination. The mix needs a hierarchy, with one element leading and the others supporting. Avoid using three or four different shapes at the same level, which looks unresolved.
Choosing
For a clean look and a low budget, choose plain tops. For a traditional look with security, choose spear tops with slightly blunted points. For detail and personality, add finials at key places. Check codes, seal the joints and match the choice to the house, and the top of the gate will look right for years.
Repairing and replacing tops
Tops take abuse from weather, cars and children, so it helps to know how each type is repaired. A flat top that gets dinged can be filed, primed and repainted in minutes. A spear tip that bends can often be straightened with a vise and a heat source, then touched up. A finial that comes loose usually needs rewelding or a new threaded stud, since a loose cap will fall in the next windstorm. Ask the fabricator whether finials are welded or screwed on, and keep a few spares from the original order so that a match is available years later.
Spacing and rhythm along the top
The rhythm of the tops changes the feel of the gate. Evenly spaced spears create a steady march that looks formal. Alternating tall and short tops, or placing a finial every fourth bar, gives a lively pattern. A rising center, where the middle bars climb to a peak, draws the eye to the entrance. Whichever rhythm is used, keep the spacing even enough that the pattern reads clearly from the road, and test it with a drawing before cutting steel.
Heat and sun
Dark metal tops can get hot in Georgetown summers, which matters near walkways where a hand might brush them. Lighter colors reflect heat, and rounded tops are more comfortable than sharp edges. A glossy finish also shows dust and scratches more than a satin one, so many owners pick a satin black or bronze that hides small flaws and stays presentable between cleanings.